5 things you need to know Thursday
1. Clinton in the spotlight on Benghazi
Former secretary of State Hillary Clinton will testify Thursday before the House Select Committee on Benghazi to defend her actions concerning the 2012 attacks at the U.S. Consulate in Libya that killed four Americans. Over three years and multiple committees, the investigation has become increasingly partisan. Republicans criticize Clinton for inadequate security at the consulate and others in the administration for incorrectly portraying the attacks as spontaneous rather than planned. More recently, the committee, led by Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., has been exploring Clinton's use of a personal email account on a private email server and the influence on Clinton by longtime friend Sidney Blumenthal. Democrats have accused the committee and Gowdy of trying to damage Clinton politically. The hearing will likely produce high political theater, but it may not fully answer key questions.
2. U.S. and Pakistan talk Afghanistan
President Obama's new strategy for Afghanistan will be a major topic Thursday when he meets with the leader of Pakistan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's trip comes a week after Obama announced he will keep more U.S. troops for a longer period of time in Afghanistan, which borders Pakistan. "The security cooperation between our two countries is beneficial to the safety and security of the citizens in both our countries," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.
3. The day after 'Back to the Future' Day, the paper's out
On newsstands Thursday, you'll find a special remake of the newspaper from Back to the Future Part II wrapped around your Paste BN. Future fans had been looking forward to Oct. 21, 2015, for decades, because it was the day that Marty McFly and Doc Brown sought to change when they went back in time — and now, the Paste BN showcased in the movie is available for fans and collectors. Many of the articles were written by BTTF co-creator Bob Gale. But at least one premonition didn't come true — the paper is $2, not $6, as predicted in the movie version (oh, and where are our hoverboards?). Find all our Back to the Future Day coverage here.
4. Candidate Donald Trump is getting serious
In an interview with Paste BN on the 100th consecutive day he has led in national polls — and approaching 100 days before the opening Iowa caucuses — Donald Trump made it clear that he his taking his candidacy seriously, just as pundits and politicians around the nation are realizing that they need to do the same. It is increasingly hard to deny that the 69-year-old celebrity billionaire is a credible Republican presidential nominee. And as a legitimate contender, Trump said he plans on being less bombastic in the days ahead. "We're so far out in front that there's no reason to be quite the way we were, and I do want to tone it down a little bit, but at the same time I don't want to lose the energy, Trump said.
5. Netanyahu to meet with Kerry about peace in the Middle East
Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to meet with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Germany on Thursday. The meeting comes on the heels contentious remarks made by Netanyahu on Wednesday about the Holocaust, which were swiftly dismissed by the German government. Kerry is scheduled to meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan this weekend. The goal is to find common ground aimed at restarting peace talks and ending a surge in violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
And the essentials:
Weather: The central U.S. will see a cloudy, soggy Thursday while most of the East and West are dry.
Stocks: U.S. stock futures were higher Thursday, after disappointing U.S. earnings reports dented investor sentiment.
TV tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Bones and Heroes Reborn.
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